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Accessible ADU design for aging in place

By the HyreADU research desk. Last checked .

The short answer

Accessible ADU design means planning a step-free entry, wide doors, a curbless shower, space to turn a wheelchair, and controls within reach.

For most private ADUs on a home lot these features are a choice: the Fair Housing Act design rules cover buildings with four or more units.

State and local codes can add rules, so ask your building department.

Features to plan from the start

  • A step-free route from the street or driveway to the door.
  • Wide doors and halls throughout.
  • A curbless shower with blocking in the walls for grab bars.
  • Lever handles and controls at reachable heights.
  • A kitchen with knee space at one counter.
  • The bedroom and bathroom on the entry level.

Which rules apply

The federal Fair Housing Act’s design and construction rules apply to covered multifamily buildings of four or more units, not to a single-family house with an ADU, according to HUD and the Department of Justice. The building code still applies to every ADU, and local codes may add features. Read the ADU accessibility definition.

Cheaper now than later

Most accessible features cost little when drawn on the first plan: a wider door frame, a lower shower pan, blocking in the walls. Adding them after the walls are closed means demolition. See ADU for aging parents and our aging in place research.

A mistake to avoid

The mistake to avoid is a step at the front door. Many ADUs sit on a raised floor, which leaves one or two steps at the entry. Plan the foundation height and the path grade together so the entry is level from the start.

What to do next: check your lot with the ADU feasibility checker, read the questions to ask an ADU builder, then tell us about your project. Matching is not live yet, so we reply with information, not a quote.

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Questions

Does an ADU have to meet the ADA?

The ADA covers public accommodations, not most private homes. Rules change if the unit is used as a business.

Does the Fair Housing Act apply to my ADU?

Its design rules cover buildings with four or more units, so usually not.

Is a ramp allowed in a setback?

Local codes vary. Ask your planning department.

Can a two-story ADU be accessible?

Only the entry level, unless you add a lift. Put the bedroom and bath downstairs.

Sources

HyreADU is a publisher. It does not design, permit or build ADUs, has no partner builders, and gives no legal, tax, lending or engineering advice.

Rules vary by state and city; California rules are labeled as such. Spotted an error? Tell us through our corrections page. Licensed professionals can also contribute as named sources.